Closures expected on Loop Parkway

Motorists should expect overnight closures in both directions of the Loop Parkway between Meadowbrook State Parkway and Lido Boulevard beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Christina Daly/Herald

Motorists should expect overnight closures in both directions of the Loop Parkway between Meadowbrook State Parkway and Lido Boulevard beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

There will be full closures of the Loop Parkway on weeknights from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. while major structural, electrical, and mechanical repairs are made to the drawbridge over Long Creek. On Sunday, Feb. 3, the closure will begin at midnight into Monday, Feb. 4.

A detour is available between the Long Beach barrier island and Long Island’s mainland via the Long Beach Bridge — Long Beach Boulevard connecting the City of Long Beach and Island Park. Detour signs have been placed to direct drivers to this alternate route. Variable message signs are also alerting area motorists and carrying additional details with any updates.

The closures are expected to be in place for about three weeks. As with most road and bridge projects, work may be cancelled, postponed, or prolonged due to inclement weather.

The New York State Department of Transportation has arranged that all major work for this project be done during the cold weather months to minimize the disruption to marine and vehicular traffic during the summer tourism season.

The DOT has coordinated these closures with area emergency response units, local elected officials and civic organizations, the U.S. Coast Guard as well as the local maritime community.

This bridge and the nearby drawbridge on the Meadowbrook State Parkway over Sloop Channel, both built in 1934, are undergoing a $22.5 million strengthening project with enhancements that include structural repairs of the draw spans as well as mechanical and electrical repairs, including new navigation lighting.

Work on both bridges began in the fall of 2017 and is scheduled for completion later this year.

Additional information about this project can be found online at www.dot.ny.gov/drawbridge-repairs. For real-time travel information, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org or the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York State’s official traffic and travel information source.